April 20th. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) seeds - polynoses - technically "winged achenes" - are well developed.

 

Upstream from the Blackledge River Bridge, lots of Trout-Lilies (Erythronium americanum) in bloom.

 

 

 

Mottled leaves are a dead give away, whether or not the plants are blooming.

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia). "Quinquefolia" translates as 5-parted leaves.

 

Could be a Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) but I think it's a Cherry Gall Azure (Celastrina serotina).

 

Both species have pale blue upper surfaces, though except in flight the color is mostly hidden.

 

April 21st. The trail crossing at Route 207 has a new look, and I think under the cones are brackets to support pedestrian signals. Will have to wait and see if I'm right.

 

A quick check on the Red Trilliums (Trillium erectum) just west of Route 207.

 

Seems like fewer and smaller plants than in previous years.

 

One Jack-in-the pulpit (Arisaema atrorubens) blooming east of Route 207.

 

The first I've seen this year.

 

An afternoon visit to the Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens). Looking good...

 

...blowers about shot.

 

Nifty little fern in the rock cut near the River Road parking area.

 

April 22nd. Crab Apple (Malus coronaria) in bud.

 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with nest material in its beak. I saw the same bird in the same spot yesterday, also holding nest material.

 

Six-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella sp.).

 

April 25th. A pair of Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 26th. Oaks are blooming and things generally are pretty green.

 

 

 

A bit of Crab Apple (Malus coronaria) is blooming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is in full bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

Morrow's Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) also comes in pink.

 

Flowers turn yellow as they age.

 

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).

 

Fiddleheads of Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum).

 

 

 

I learned this as Orange Tremella or Witch's Butter (Tremella mesenterica) but it has several other common names.

 

A female March Fly ((Family Bibionidae, Bibio sp.).

 

Thanks to bugguide.net for the ID.

 

 

 

A male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Very few waterfowl around this morning.

 

An intact Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) seed head.

 

Looks like pumping station renovations where the Colchester Spur crosses Route 85 in Amston are just about complete.

 

Still a pretty dangerous crossing point.

 

Between the pumping station and a small bridge, there's a stand of highly invasive Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). Read about it here: https://www.conngardener.com/japanese-knotweed/

 

It looks a lot like Bamboo and spreads like crazy. This patch should be controlled now!